Heavy Yukoners can expect more health woes

Yukon Medical Health Officer Brendan Hanley says to expect an increase in cases of heart disease and type II diabetes in the territory.

Yukon Medical Health Officer Brendan Hanley says to expect an increase in cases of heart disease and type II diabetes in the territory.

“I would predict that we are going to see more heart disease as we become more overweight,“ said Hanley.

“And diabetes, we are seeing more, the prevalence of diabetes seems to be increasing from year-to-year and that’s totally predictable.“

His comments come on the heels of Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) that suggests more than half of Yukon adults are overweight.

Hanley bases his prognosis on the fact obesity is considered a primary risk factor for both diseases and according to the CCHS, 28.5 per cent of adult males and 21.8 per cent of adult females in Yukon are considered obese.

The survey based its findings on body mass index (BMI), an international standard that uses one’s weight and height to gauge body fat. A person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is more than 25 and obese if it is 30, or more.

While Hanley says the Yukon’s smaller sample size (in the CHSS survey) increases the range of error, he believes the results paint a relatively correct portrait of the population’s health.

“This gives us a broad picture of what’s going on,“ said Hanley. “When we compare this to Yukon’s data from 2005, the numbers are similar, if anything, the number shows a trend towards obesity, as there are more in the obese category, compared to the overweight category.“

Adding to the broader picture is the rate of diabetes in the Yukon. From 2002, cases of the disease have increased by 5.8 per cent and there are 1,786 people in the territory diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

The Department of Health and Social Services doesn’t have a breakdown of how many have which type, nor does it have numbers on cases of heart disease.

No matter, Hanley says avoiding both is a good reason to get off the couch, and can avert other related health problems.

Poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle (little exercise or physical activity) can also predispose one for having a stroke later in life, he adds.

“High blood pressure (tends to be associated) with heart disease, so there’s a lot of interplay between the two and all of those risk factors tend to go up as people get overweight,“ said Hanley.

“Then you can have joint problems, (when) people get a lot more wear and tear on weight-bearing joints and that can be a major disability, tends to decrease people’s capacity to exercise and it becomes a vicious circle.“

Turning that vicious circle into a lifestyle change is Diane Young, manager of Curves, a fitness club for women. Young blames modern conveniences for much of the weight problems people have developed.

“I think this is something that started in the mid-‘50s when we sat in front of the television with TV dinners and it’s just accumulated over the decades and now we’re faced with a more sedentary life,“ Young said.

“We used to lead more active lives, people were doing more physical labour and I don’t think we’re seeing the same levels any more.“

In addition to eating more fresh food and less processed food, physical activity is equally important.

“Everybody should be involved in some sort of fitness regime,“ said Young.

A combination of cardio (walking, running, swimming or cycling) and strength training forms the basics of any plan and according to Curves, its 30-minute circuit can burn up to 500 calories.

While being out of shape can be a reason for some to start exercising, it can also be an excuse not to, as many are embarrassed about the way they look.

But the name of the woman-specific gym celebrates the bodies which Curves wants to shape up, clients Young describes as “slightly overweight, or overweight women who feel they’re more comfortable in this type of atmosphere.“

However, Young says men can feel similar body-image related reservations about joining a fitness club, as well.

“The gyms that are around, most of them are geared for the younger generation,“ said Young. “I think this type of surrounding would be an excellent thing for middle-aged men, because most of our membership are the middle-aged.“